A promising primary ballot has been narrowed to four candidates.

Tommy Merritt, a former state representative from Kilgore, is the Republican candidate for Agriculture Commissioner. (Photo/Harry Cabluck)

Texas' Commissioner of Agriculture is one of those often ignored positions whose duties outstrip its media attention, and which politicians view as more of a stepping stone than a responsibility. The election for the statewide seat's four-year term is probably the most visible interaction that many Texans have with the position, yet its job duties are rooted deeply throughout our state. The Texas Department of Agriculture, among many responsibilities, regulates gas pumps and pesticides, administers school lunch programs and generally promotes Texas agriculture. In the political realm, the Agriculture Commissioner also serves as a symbolic representative of rural Texas.

You would expect political parties to jump on the opportunity to put forth a fresh, young face plucked from our state's dwindling crop of farmers and ranchers.

Primary voters had their pick of quality candidates on both sides of the aisle, but those low-turnout elections landed Republicans with two has-beens and Democrats with a nobody and a self-promoting comedian. There is symbolism in the fact that neither the Texas Farm Bureau nor the Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association has endorsed a candidate from either party in these runoff races.

Given the limited choices, we recommend Tommy Merritt as the Republican candidate for agriculture commissioner and make no endorsement in Democratic race.

Republican candidate for Agriculture Commissioner: Tommy Merritt

A former state representative from Kilgore, Tommy Merritt comes from a dying breed in Texas politics: the good 'ol boy. With a smile and a firm handshake, Merritt, 66, is just as comfortable talking about growing up in small-town Texas as he is cutting through the pleasantries and getting to the issues. Cooperating with Mexico to fight boll weevils, cutting waste in school lunch programs and, most important, shoring up water supplies, were on his list of topics when he met with the Chronicle editorial board. Having served for six years on the Sabine River Authority, Merritt has the experience to help address water issues for farmers and ranchers across the state.

His opponent, former state representative Sid Miller, lacks either the skill or interest in focusing on the Agriculture Commissioner's actual duties. He has run a campaign built on talking points unrelated to the position, such as the Second Amendment and his opposition to abortion. Elections are a job interview. Voters should hire the man who actually wants to do the work.

Democratic candidate for Agriculture Commissioner: No endorsement

When Kinky Friedman ran for this position in 2010, we referred to it as a "jokey candidacy." The addition of talking points doesn't make his candidacy any more serious, especially when those points are mostly about the legalization of marijuana. His gleeful hijacking of this policy debate does no favors for serious-minded advocates of decriminalization or legalization.

Friedman's opponent, Jim Hogan, has yet to campaign and says he doesn't plan on starting.

With candidates like these, Texas will only turn blue from folks holding their breath for a statewide Democrat.